Metal Pollution in the Environment of Minas Gerais State - Brazil

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2006-06, Vol.117 (1-3), p.157-172
• Main Authors: Veado, M. A. R. V, Arantes, I. A, Oliveira, A. H, Almeida, M. R. M. G, Miguel, R. A, Severo, M. I, Cabaleiro, H. L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal productions; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Cattle raising; Contaminated sediments; Contamination; Copper; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Farming; fish; Floods; forage; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Global environmental pollution; Heavy metals; INAA; Intoxication; Metals - analysis; Mining; mining environment; Neutron Activation Analysis; Neutrons; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Rivers; Sediment pollution; sediments; Studies; Terrestrial animal productions; Toxic; Toxicology; trace elements; Vertebrates; water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water pollution
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-006-8716-9

Intense mining activities in Minas Gerais State - Brazil brings out tons of waste to the environment. Considerable concentrations of toxic elements penetrate the soil, ground waters and rivers. This endangers the environment quality not only in the surrounding areas but also in ichthyofauna and in more distant areas of cattle raising and agricultural activities. After seasonal floods, veterinary clinic studies have shown that most animals raised in this region are affected by symptomatologic nervous diseases, still not clearly diagnosed, which suggests intoxication. These pathologies are mostly noted after floods. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis was applied to determine Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Th and Zn in environmental samples. The obtained results show that the water and sediment contaminated with heavy metals and toxic elements from the Das Velhas River upstream basin, the mining region, carry contamination to the ichthyofauna and farming region within a distance of approximately 400 km.